Chapter 20

CRYSTAL

As woke up feeling happy, Erik was in my thought. I had the bouquet he gave me standing in a vase next to my bed, it was a reminder of his commitment and our promise to make things work this time around.

The plan was for us to introduce each other to our families once we were both ready, but I knew that before we could do that we had to overcome some difficult conversations about the past. Though I didn't know how my father would take it. Also, what would Mrs. Wayne and Carrie say about it since we were still not on good terms?

Anyway, Erik and I had agreed that it would be better if we held off on meeting each other's families until after we had managed to repair our relationship. We wanted to give ourselves time to let go of all the pain and sadness from our past, as well as enough time to rebuild trust between us.

But I couldn't help being apprehensive about what would happen when Erik finally met my family. When I first introduced him as a boyfriend, they weren't very fond of him – all they saw was a guy who had hurt me in the past, rather than someone who could make me happy now.

My parents were even less enthusiastic when they found out that Erik was back in my life again – they thought it was too soon for us to jump back into things without giving ourselves proper time apart. But I knew what we shared ran deeper than just a few months of separation – so despite their worries, I decided that it was worth taking a chance with him again.

When the day finally came for Erik and me to meet families, it felt like butterflies were fluttering around inside my stomach. My heart raced as I grabbed his hand tightly in mine and walked up the driveway toward his uncle's house since his parents had both passed away.

As we approached the door, I could hear the sound of laughter and chatter coming from inside. Erik knocked and we were greeted by his uncle, who welcomed us in with open arms.

We took a deep breath and stepped inside, ready to face whatever lay ahead. But, to my surprise, everyone was so warm and welcoming towards me, despite knowing about our past. They all smiled and greeted us, making me feel like I was already a part of their family.

As the night went on, we all shared stories, jokes, and memories, and I could see how happy Erik was to be surrounded by the people he loved. It was evident that he had missed them so much, and they had missed him just as much.

And then came the moment when I introduced Erik to my family. It was nerve-wracking, to say the least, but I knew that it was time for them to see the person who had captured my heart. Even though my father wasn't thrilled at first, Erik's charm and sincerity won him over. And as the night went on, I could see that Erik was slowly winning over the rest of my family too.

As for Mrs. Wayne and Carrie, they were still not on good terms with me, but they were cordial towards Erik. They exchanged pleasantries and even shared a laugh or two, which gave me hope that one day we could all move on from the past.

As the night came to an end, we both looked at each other in silence.

"I guess this is goodbye," I said, a hint of sadness in my voice.

He nodded and smiled. "It's been a pleasure getting to know you."

We hugged one more time and said our goodbyes. As I walked away, I felt a wave of relief and happiness wash over me. We had taken a chance on each other, and it had paid off.

The next day, my father talked to me, saying he would send me abroad to resume my studies. I was shocked, knowing that Erik and I would be apart. But it was for the company as I would be the next CEO.

I heaved a heavy sigh as I accepted my father's decision to send me abroad for further studies. It was hard enough to imagine leaving Erik and my family behind, but it was an opportunity that I couldn't pass up.

"Erik," I said, my voice trembling slightly, "I have a big decision to make. There's an offer to study at a prestigious university abroad, and I'm considering it."

He looked at me with understanding in his eyes. "It would be an amazing experience for you," he said softly, "but it also means that we'll be far away from each other."

I nodded sadly. We both knew the consequences of this choice, but it had to be done — for the company, and myself. He took my hands in his, squeezing them gently as reassurance. "We can still stay in contact," he said encouragingly. "You know how much you mean to me."

Tears spilled down my cheeks as I smiled at him through them. I hugged him tightly one last time before wiping away my tears.

The next few weeks flew by as we prepared for my departure. My family threw me a party and gave me their love and support before I left, making this bittersweet experience even more special.

The day of my departure finally arrived. With a heavy heart, I gathered my things and said my goodbyes to my family and friends. Erik was the last to say goodbye. He drove me to the airport with tears in his eyes.

We stopped at the entrance gate and got out of the car. We hugged tightly as we said our final goodbyes. Our embrace felt like it would never end, but eventually, I knew it had to come to an end if I was going to make my flight on time.

Erik wiped away his tears and smiled at me warmly one last time. "You can do this," he said encouragingly, giving me one final squeeze before releasing me from his embrace.

I returned his smile with a nod and began walking towards the entrance gate, looking back over my shoulder once more before turning away for good. I could see him standing there, watching me until I disappeared into the crowd of travelers making their way inside the airport terminal.

As I walked through security, I took one last look back at Erik through the window. He waved goodbye one last time before walking away into the sunset — knowing that this wasn't goodbye forever, but only until we reunited again someday soon. When the day came, Erik drove me to the airport with tears in his eyes. He hugged me tightly one last time before wishing me luck on my journey. As I walked through the gate, I looked back at him one last time before saying goodbye — knowing that this wasn't "goodbye forever", but only until we reunited again someday soon.